Saddle and method of making the same



NGV. 16, 1937. w s'w 2,099,503

SADDLE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed April 50, 1936 Earle has we wPatented Nov. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SADDLE AND METHOD OF MAKING THESAME Earl W. Swett, Alma, Mich., assignor to The Lobdell-EmeryManufacturing Company,

Alma,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 30, 1936, Serial No.77,282 1 Claim. (or. 155-523) The present invention relates to saddlesfor cycles, such as bicycles and motorcycles, and its principal objectis'to provide an improved type r of saddle embodying a rigid metallicseating member having a covering of leather or other suitable material,and an improved method or process for securing the covering of sheetmate-' rial to the metallic base of the seating member.

It has heretofore been suggested that cycle saddles might advantageouslybe made by forming of relatively thick sheet metal the necessarily stiffand rigid supporting member upon which the rider of the cycle is to beseated, which member is in turn to be secured to the cycle itself bysuitable means. Such metallic seating members may be conveniently andeconomically formed of sheet metal by pressing operations and haveproven to be eminently practical and successful in use, as well asinexpensive to construct.

Naturally the metal used in the fabrication of the seating member mustbe of substantial thickness in order that the seating member shallmaintain its shape when in use and carrying the weight of a heavy rider.The use of such heavy gauge metal, however, makes it diflicult toadequately secure thereto the usual covering of sheet material, such asnatural or artificial leather or fabric, and it is the purpose of thepresent invention to provide a simple method by which this can bereadily and inexpensively done.

Inasmuch as the metal employed in the fabrication of the seating memberproper is of such thick gauge that no ordinary sewing or stitchingapparatus can be used to sew the marginal edges of the fabric coveringto the edges of the seating member, and as furthermore it is highlyundesirable to punch holes as a preliminary step along the margins ofthe seating member through which stitches may subsequently be passed, itis necessary, if the ordinary stitching operation is to be carried outin securing the covering upon the seating member, to employ a differentmethod or process of attachment. In accordance with the presentinvention an improved process for the attainment of this object isprovided.

This process includes the step of fastening, preferably by welding, tothe inner surface of the depending skirt of the seating member, a secondmetallic member in the form of a strip, this member or strip overlappingthe free edge of the seating member and having a portion which projectsoutwardly beyond this edge. The added strip or member is thin ascompared with the thickness of the seating member proper and is of suchcomposition as well as thickness that it may be readily penetrated bythe needle of an ordinary sewing or stitching apparatus of the typeadapted for use in the sewing or stitching of materials such as leather,heavy fabrics or the like. After the application of this relatively thinstrip to the relatively thick seating member, any suitable type ofnatural or artificial leather or fabric, cover may be placed over theseating member and the edges of this covering layer stitched or sewn tothe projecting edge of the thin metallic strip previously secured to theseating member. The completed saddle presents an attractive appearanceand is very durable in use while at the same time the method pursued inits fabrication, as above set forth, is simple and inexpensive to 15carry out.

In the accompanying drawing one view shows the completed saddle andother views the seating member and added strip, these members beingillustrated singly and after being united. 20

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the metallic seating member;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the strip which is to be afiixedthereto;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the seating mem- 25 ber after the striphas been attached, partly broken away;

Figure 4' is a side elevation of the completed saddle showing the coverand cushioning means applied to the seating member and the securing 30stitches as applied to the cover;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section through the saddle edge, showing themeans for attaching the cover; and

Figure 6 is a section through portion of a saddle construction embodyinga slightly different form of added metallic strip.

The seating member H], as has been before pointed out, is formed ofsheet metal, being pressed into the shape shown in Figure 1 between 40suitable dies. The metal of which the seating member is fabricated ispreferably mild steel but of such thickness as to insure that theresulting structure has the requisite stiffness and strength. It will beappreciated that seating 45 member I0 will be affixed to a cycle, theusual means for attachment to the cycle including a spring constructionsecured to the seating mem- I ber, and a longitudinally extending reachmember beneath the seating member, which reach 50 member is attached atone point to a saddle post. The seating member must be rigid and stiffeven under the weight of the heaviest rider and the minimum thickness ofthe sheet metal which can be employed in its fabrication is such that no55 tively thin metallic strip II, this strip being secured, by weldingor otherwise, but preferably by welding, to the inner surface of theseating member ID in such a way as to overlap this edge and projectoutwardly therefrom a slight distance as shown in Figure 3. The addedstrip II is of such character and thickness as to permit the penetrationof an ordinary sewing machine needle of the type employed in thestitching of leather or heavy fabrics. After the strip II has beenassembled to the seating member [0 the covering sheet I2 of leather orlike material is placed over the seating member, an intermediate layerof cushioning material I3, such as rubber, being interposed if desired,and the edge of the cover l2 brought into close relationship to theprojecting edge of the strip ll, preferably being turned around theouter edge of strip I, asshown in Figure 4. The saddle may then beplaced upon the ordinary sewing machine of heavy type and the sewing orstitching operation carried out, a series of stitches being indicated atM in Figure 4. The saddle is then ready for use. The cushioning means,reach member, etc. may be attached to the seating member I0 eitherbefore or after the application of the cover, as may be found mostconvenient.

If desired the added strip may be formed with 7 an offset as shown inthe fragmentary sectional Figure 6 in order that the outer surface ofthe added strip may comprise a smooth continuation of the outer surfaceof the seating member II). It is apparent also that various other slightchanges may be made in the process without ingthe stifiness and strengthnecessary to support the weight of a rider, a strip of metal secured tothe said seating member and projecting beyond the free edge thereof, theprojecting portion of said strip being relatively thin as compared withthe seating member, and a covering of leather or the like extending overtheseating member and having its edge stitched to said projectingportion of the strip.

EARL W. SWETT.

